When thinking of cycling races and granfondo’s, Limburg immediately comes to mind. The province is uniquely suited to the sport of cycling. And the various crossborder races hosted in Limburg attest to the borderless quality of its cycling activities. The Volta Limburg classic, the Amstel Gold Race, Limburgs Mooiste, Eroica Limburg and the crossborder Sunriser are only a few examples in which Limburg profiles itself als the cross border cycling region in Northwestern Europe.

Birthplace of cycling
The people of this unique crossborder province wholeheartedly embrace all forms of cycling: whether recreational or professional in nature. This region in the heart of Europe is known as the birthplace of cycling races. When we think of cycling in Limburg, the many hills and climbs are what first spring to mind. However, the Netherlands’ southernmost province is also ideal for recreational cycling. Not only are there many climbs, but also vast plateaus and the plains along the Maas river. It’s no accident that the huge network of cycling routes, spanning over 4000 kilometres, originated in Limburg. Each year, the dozens of cycling routes in Limburg, extending into Belgian Limburg, Wallonia and Germany, attract thousands of visitors. Cycling in Limburg knows no boundaries. It’s just one of the many ways in which Limburgers unite people and places, by building bridges and daring to consider possibilities with neighbouring countries across the borders.

“Cycling is of major economic importance for the region. Take the thousands of tourists who bike around the border region each year – they alone provide a lot of employment. And you can cycle endlessly here through beautiful countryside. Personally I love training here. You can be in the Ardennes and the Voerstreek in no time. So diverse, and so close by; it’s ideal. Then there’s the Amstel Gold Race, which has put Limburg on the map for decades. So I think it’s a good idea for Limburg to profile itself internationally as a cycling region.”

“Cycling is one of the main pillars of tourism in South Limburg, from day trips to longer stays as well as gastronomic tourism. It’s really booming. The border location makes Limburg particularly interesting for many people: they like the idea of visiting three countries in one day, which you can do here.”

“If someone in the Netherlands wants to go cycling somewhere special, they don’t go to Groningen, they come to Limburg”, Van Vliet says matter-of-factly. “There’s only one region that has so much to offer. It’s at once beautiful, varied, hilly, Burgundian and international – after all, you can ride through three countries in one day. The whole picture is just right.”